Grades never indicate intelligence.

Intelligence and effort is not something that grades can indicate. The fact that students who try are more likely to get good grades is somewhat of a blurring issue. It leads to the assumption that if all students try then all students will do well, and if all students do not try, then all students will fail. This is obviously untrue, and the matter of intelligence is not clear or easy to understand. There are clearly many ways of testing for intelligence, but relying on grades alone to judge somebody’s intelligence will not work.

Features of Education

Education empowers everyone. 

  1. Education helps in removing poverty. If a person is educated, he can get a good job and fulfill all the basic needs & requirement of his family.
  2. If you have a good education, you can serve your country well.
  3. For a safe & secure life, one needs to understand the value of education in our daily life.
  4. Trade & commerce of the country will also be flourished easily if its citizens are well-educated. Education helps to become self-dependent and build great confidence.
  5.  Good education helps to communicate better with other people. It also improves our communication skills such as speech, body language etc.
  6. Due to lack of education, many people suffer the hardships of discrimination, untouchability & injustices prevailing in the society. If all the people will be educated, they will be able to understand this better. Education is the most important ingredient to change the world.

How to procrastinate productively

If you’re anything like me, than you are the expert at procrastinating. You live and breathe last-minute assignments and you thriveunder the pressure of time crunches. You’ve survived countless essays and reading responses under the most harrowing of circumstances, the most stringent of 11:59’s. And the best (or perhaps, worst) part of it all is that you’re good at it. Nobody can tell you otherwise.

Well, as a fellow procrastinator, I’m here to do just that—tell you otherwise.

And as much I can say that I’m the best at studying (i’m not), old habits die hard. BUT, I have found a way that has worked so far, so here it is:

1. “Procrastinate” on bigger, more important tasks with smaller easier-to-do ones.

Often times, I’ll find that no matter how hard I try, I cannot bring myself to study that hard concept or read that looooong chapter I’ve been dreading all week. So I’ll do other tasks that’ll need to get done later anyway (like sending an email or even writing a certain blog post for a certain website…). The effects of this are two-fold: you’ll cross something off your to-do list and the very act of crossing said thing off to-do list (metaphorically or physically, your choice) will get the ball rolling for other, harder tasks. It’s all mind over matter. You’ll just start to feel more productive the more you get done.

2. Organize your study space/room/notes, etc.

Speaking of mind over matter, a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind. Taking out the trash or organizing your backpack are, once again, tasks that will need to get done sooner or later. Instead of wasting the time you should be spending studying on Netflix (or her lesser known but equally time consuming cousin, Pinterest), spend it organizing! If you haven’t already noticed the trend here, it’s all about maximizing your time with something productive, even if it’s not THE thing you’re procrastinating on.

3. If you just can’t get yourself to study, join something that’ll force you to.

If there is anything that I could forever imprint into the minds of my fellow Blue Jays, old and new, it’s to ENROLL IN PILOT!!!! Read that once, then go back and read it again. PILOT is a peer-led tutoring service that stresses group learning over individual learning. You’re not mindlessly studying things that, in the back of your mind, you know you won’t ever be tested on; you’re given problem sets that are (actually!) made by the professor. You’re led by a PILOT leader, someone that’s taken the class (and done well in it), who leads a group of you and your classmates to work through the problems together.

You can also try to eat while watching something, like a show or a movie. Remember it is absolutely okay to rest and procrastinate.

I hope these tips have helped, and that you, vis-à-vis me, feel a sudden urge to finish that thing you’ve been putting off. Whatever it is, good luck!

Thank you.

Importance of education in our society

Education is a tool which provides people with knowledge, skill, technique, information, enables them to know their rights and duties toward their family, society as well as the nation.  It develops the capabilities to fight against injustice, violence, corruption and many other bad elements in the society. Education gives us knowledge of the world around us. Education does play a very important role in the society, regardless which country or region of the world you’re living. India upholds Right to Education through the Constitution of India and its various amendments. Their aim is educating underprivileged sections of the Indian society and girls.  Education plays a very important role in the society of every nation. In fact, it’s the very basis for development of any society and country. One of the main reason is it decided social status. It’s no secret that highly educated people have better career and business options compared over those who’ve none or lesser education. An educated person is able to aptly distinguish between rights and wrongs. An educated person is an asset to the country. They also contribute significantly to the growth of the local economy of the state or region and the national economy as well. Education allows people to provide better lifestyle for their families. 

How can education improve your life?

Some people think that education is limited. They think that education is all about learning some limited subject and earn a certificate. These people are known as narrow-minded people. Education is life and We can improve our lives through the best education. Education is necessary to increase our opportunities to get a job. Also when you start your preparations for interview, you have to sure about your resume. Your resume have to be unique and perfect so it reflects your personality. When you have good skills, you will enhance your resume. Mental health is also important as physical health. We can improve mental health through learning something new or learning some new language. Every step you take will make you happy, you gain the confidence by taking actions and accomplishing your goals. We all should never stop learning. As life never stops, people should never stop learning. It creates new opportunities. Learning keeps your life going on. After all, you study and succeed, you can live on your own, no one can beat you when you are formative enough to gain work and live independently. So, education will be your solution to be independent. Education, not only, will improve your life, but also other’s lives. So keep it up and make a future better!

About Education

Education is the process of learning and improving knowledge, skills, values and habits. There are many educational methods include teaching, telling story, discussion, motivating etc. Education can take place in formal or informal. Formal education means it includes preschool, primary school, secondary school, higher secondary school and then college, university. formal education takes place in a school environment with classrooms of multiple students learning together. Each school system is different. They have many different choices like curriculum, about classroom, teaching staff, number of students etc. But I think that now a days education is very important for all. There is a important role of preschool and primary school. Proper and good education is very important for all of us. It facilitates quality learning all through the life among people of any age group, cast, creed, religion and region.

How to read more books

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

As New Year’s Eve approaches, many people are thinking about their goals and resolutions for 2020. Reading more books is one of the most common resolutions. Maybe you didn’t read as many books as you wanted to this year. Maybe your TBR is getting out of control. Or maybe you read a lot this year, but want to do even better next year. Regardless, these tips to read more books will help you meet your reading goals in 2020.

The tips below will help you find ways to fit more reading into your schedule, prevent burnout, and reach your goals. Keep in mind that not everything works for everyone. Find inspiration in this list, but you don’t have to take all of the advice listed here to read more books. Remember that reading should be fun and interesting, not torture. That said, I hope this list helps you fulfill your reading dreams.

1. MAKE READING PART OF YOUR ROUTINE

The best way to consistently read more is to intentionally dedicate more time to reading. Seems easy, right? The best way to make sure you keep your reading resolution through the whole year is to integrate reading time into your regular routine. Wake up a little earlier each day and read while you drink your coffee, dedicate the half hour before bedtime to reading, or spend your lunch breaks with a book. As you make reading a regular part of your schedule, it will become an ingrained habit.

2. LEARN TO DOUBLE TASK

There are only so many hours in the day, right? But if you learn to double task, you double your hours. Read a book while you’re doing something else that doesn’t require your full attention. I like to read or listen to books while working out, cooking, cleaning, and even walking. Just save the really complex books for when you can give them your undivided attention.

3. ALWAYS HAVE A BOOK

When you have a book, you’ll never get bored. You’d be surprised how many moments in your day can be filled with reading if you have a book handy. Waiting for the bus, in line at the grocery, at the doctor’s office, even in a long elevator ride—all are perfect opportunities to squeeze in a few more pages. If you don’t like carrying around a physical book, I highly recommend carrying an ereader or having a reading app downloaded on your phone.

4. SET A GOAL

It’s much easier to read more books when you set a reading goal. With a goal in mind, you can stay motivated and make sure you’re staying on track to reach it. The Goodreads Reading Challenge is an excellent way to track your goal, as it can tell you how you’re doing and help you stay on schedule. But make sure the goal you set is attainable; it will only discourage you if you set a goal you aren’t able to reasonably reach.

5. READ WITH YOUR EARS

LISTENING TO AUDIOBOOKS IS NOT CHEATING. We all learn and retain information in different ways, and audiobooks are one of many ways to enjoy a good book. Audiobooks are amazing when it comes to multitasking. You can listen to an audiobook while driving, exercising, walking, and so much more. Plus it’s a great way to avoid eye fatigue when you’ve been reading a lot of print or ebooks. If you’re new to audiobooks or don’t know if they can work for you, I recommend starting with a memoir by a celebrity author you admire, like We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union. Alternatively, try a collection of essays or short stories that can be listened to in shorter bursts, like We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby.

6. JOIN A BOOK CLUB

Book clubs are a great way to hold yourself accountable to your reading goal. First, scheduled book club meetings encourage you to finish a book by a certain date. Second, the social aspect of book clubs is a great way to feel more engaged in your reading and to discuss your thoughts with others. Third, books selected by a book club relieve some of the “what do I read next?” pressure that can keep you from picking up your next book. If you commit to a monthly book club, that’s 12 books toward your annual reading goal!

I hope these tips help you to reach your bookish goals!

Thank you.

Healthy habits for young people

Photo by Ella Olsson on Pexels.com

This article is part of a series aimed at helping you navigate life’s opportunities and challenges.

Staying healthy in your 20s is strongly associated with a lower risk for heart disease in middle age, according to research from Northwestern University. That study showed that most people who adopted five healthy habits in their 20s – a lean body mass index, moderate alcohol consumption, no smoking, a healthy diet and regular physical activity – stayed healthy well into middle age.

Weigh yourself often.

Buy a bathroom scale or use one at the gym and weigh yourself regularly. There is nothing more harmful to long-term health than carrying excess pounds, and weight tends to creep up starting in the 20s. It is pretty easy for most people to get rid of three to five pounds and much harder to get rid of 20. If you keep an eye on your weight you can catch it quickly.

Learn to cook.

Learning to cook will save you money and help you to eat healthy. Your focus should be on tasty ways to add variety to your diet and to boost intake of veggies and fruits and other nutrient-rich ingredients. As you experiment with herbs and spices and new cooking techniques, you will find that you can cut down on the unhealthy fats, sugar and salt, as well as the excess calories found in many prepared convenience foods. Your goal should be to develop a nutritious and enjoyable eating pattern that is sustainable and that will help you not only to be well, but also to manage your weight.

Cut back on sugar.

I suggest that young people try to avoid excessive simple sugar by eliminating the most common sources of consumption: 1) sugared soft drinks 2) breakfast cereals with added sugar and 3) adding table sugar to foods. Excessive sugar intake has been linked to obesity and diabetes, both of which contribute to heart disease. Sugar represents “empty calories” with none of the important nutrients needed in a balanced diet. Conversely, the traditional dietary villains, fat, particularly saturated fat, and salt, have undergone re-examination by many thoughtful nutrition experts. In both cases, the available scientific evidence does not clearly show a link to heart disease.

Live an active life.

While many people can’t find time for a scheduled exercise routine, that doesn’t mean you can’t find time to be active. Build physical activity into your daily life. Find a way to get 20 or 30 minutes of activity each day, including riding a bike or briskly walking to work.

​​Eat your veggies.

Nutrition science is complicated and debated endlessly, but the basics are well established: Eat plenty of plant foods, go easy on junk foods, and stay active. The trick is to enjoy your meals, but not to eat too much or too often.

Practice portion control.

My tip would be to not to ban entire food groups but to practice portion control. Portion control doesn’t mean tiny portions of all foods – quite the opposite. It’s okay to eat larger portions of healthy foods like vegetables and fruit. No one got fat from eating carrots or bananas. Choose smaller portions of unhealthy foods such as sweets, alcohol and processed foods. When eating out, let your hand be your guide. A serving of protein like chicken or fish should be the size of your palm. (Think 1-2 palms of protein.) A serving of starch, preferably a whole grain such as brown rice or quinoa should be the size of your fist. Limit high-fat condiments like salad dressing to a few tablespoons – a tablespoon is about the size of your thumb tip.

Adopt a post-party exercise routine.

If you engage in a lot of drinking and snacking, ensure you exercise a lot to offset all those extra calories from Friday to Sunday that come with extra drinking and eating. We found in a study that on Friday through Sunday young adults consumed about 115 more calories than on other days, mainly from fat and alcohol.

I hope you like these tips.

Thank you.

How to build resilience

Photo by Andres Ayrton on Pexels.com

Community resilience is always a characteristic of human communities, but what about you? When you turn your lens inward, how resilient are you?

So – we need each other to get through this strange, unsettling time. But, what about you? When you turn your lens inward, how resilient are you? Resilience is something that we are born with. Because of resilience, we learn to crawl, then walk, then run until we can finally skip and dance. Sometimes, however, our resilience muscle needs to bulk up. Here are a few tips for building individual resilience in times of stress.

1. Be Self- Compassionate

Resilience allows you to bounce back from a challenge. The first step is to recognize that what you’re experiencing is challenging. Give yourself permission to say, “This is hard.” “This is scary.” “I’m really worried.” Next, remind yourself that it’s ok to feel the way you feel. Now take a deep breath and remind yourself that this is a moment in time and for this moment, you will allow yourself to feel.

2. Be Flexible

When life doesn’t go as planned, flexibility allows us to form a “Plan B”.  As you go about your new normal, you’ll probably experience moments of deep frustration. These are the times that flexibility is most important. Allow yourself to relax previously held standards that don’t make sense in the present. Apply your creativity to solve problems that crop up. Adapt your responses to others with an awareness of their own level of stress. Flexibility will help you navigate whatever lies ahead.

3. Reframe Frustrations

Resilience has a lot to do with your mindset. People who are able to detect good, even in difficult situations, tend to be more resilient. For example, when kids are together all day long, there are bound to be disagreements and tears. The silver lining is that there is now time and opportunity to teach kids how to solve problems. You’ll not only have time to teach this, but kids will have time to practice these skills. So, when you bump up against a frustration, reframe it so that you can see the positive aspects of the situation.

4. Exercise

There are three types of human energy – emotional, mental, and physical energy. And physical energy is the most important. When physically drained, we’re more emotionally reactive, our thinking is clouded and our judgement is impaired. Exercise builds physical energy. Take time in your day to exercise even if you’re not used to exercising.  A simple walk around your neighborhood or a park will shore up your physical energy, allowing you to apply emotional and mental energy to the stressors that you’ll encounter during the day.

5. Sleep

Brain cells are cleansed and recharged during sleep. Sleep deprivation will slow down cognitive function and increases emotional reactivity. Binge-watching Netflix into the wee hours may be a good way to escape reality for a while. However, lack of sleep will reduce your ability to be resilient at a time when resilience is essential. So, set a schedule that includes time for relaxing before sleep. High quality sleep will sustain the energy you’ll need to be resilient every day.

I hope these tips help you.

Thank you.

Side Hustles for students

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

You may be spending most of your time studying (right?), but as a college student, you can never have enough pocket money! After all, there are an endless amount of coffees to buy in the campus cafe, ski trips to go on, and dates to pay for. But since few college students have the time to take on a full-time job, we’ve found 30 side hustles just perfect for busy (and broke!) college students.

1. Sell Stock Photos

Websites, book covers, brochures and just about anything else you can think of often use stock photos to spice up their product with images. College students who are avid photographers can sell their photos to websites like Shutterstock, who will sell them and provide the student with a commission. Go all out and pose various photos using friends as models, or simply sell photos of random objects, scenes, and experiences.

2. Start a Part-Time Photography Business

If photography is your thing, don’t just stop your side hustle at stock photos. Start a part-time photography business in your town or city! Put together a portfolio, then advertise your services to local families and your fellow students. The best part is you can choose not only your own prices but your own hours.

3. Deliver Anything Else Someone Might Need

If food isn’t enough, there’s even a market for the delivery of other things (think files and documents, groceries, and school supplies). To get on board this perfect side hustle, check out the website for Postmates. You can deliver on your own schedule using your car, bicycle, or even your own feet.

4. Start Your Own Etsy Business

College students who have a little extra time and some artistic talent can make a tidy little income with an Etsy business. Simply start your profile, then sell your homemade greeting cards, baby girl bows, crocheted scarves, or just about anything else you can think of. Not so crafty? That’s okay. Shop around for treasures at local garage and estate sales, then sell your most interesting finds on your Etsy page.

5. Become a Freelancer

More and more people are making their living as freelance writers — that is, creators of website content. If you are able to write well (or illustrate, code, or graphic design), check out Upwork, a website which connects freelancers with those who need work done. Writers can apply for each project individually, choosing their own rates and working to complete the project on their own schedule.

6. Become a Tutor

Are you especially talented at math, chemistry, French, or another subject that tends to stump others? If so, consider offering your own tutoring services! Parents want their children — whether in elementary school or in college — to succeed, and often pay big bucks for tutoring services. Be aware that this side hustle requires not only a true knowledge of a subject, but also a knack for teaching. If you can handle those two elements, then choose your hourly rate and get started!

I hope you like these ideas.

Thank you.

Over 12 Crore COVID vaccine doses administered to beneficiaries in country so far; Over 2 lakh 34 thousand new cases reported in past 24 hrs

India has achieved the landmark of administering over 12 crore doses of Covid vaccine to the beneficiaries so far. Union Health Ministry said that more than 30 lakh four thousand doses were given to the beneficiaries in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said, two lakh 34 thousand 692 new cases have been reported in the country in the past 24 hours taking the cumulative positive cases to over one crore 45 lakh. One thousand 341 deaths have also been reported taking the toll to over one lakh 75 thousand across the country so far.

The country’s COVID-19 recovery rate has reached to 87.23 per cent with the total recovery of more than one lakh 23 thousand patients in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said over one crore 26 lakh patients have already been recovered from this disease. Presently, the total number of active cases in the country is over 16 lakh 79 thousand which comprises only 11.56 per cent of the total positive cases.

The Indian Council of Medical Research said that various laboratories have conducted more than 14 lakh 95 thousand tests of corona virus samples during the last 24 hours. and more than 26 crore 49 lakh tests have been conducted in the country so far.

Railways Ministry approves to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen container trucks on Roll-on roll-off basis

Indian Railways has given in-principle approval to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen container trucks on Roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) basis. In a first of its kind operation approved by the Railway Ministry, the Indian Railways will soon carry cryogenic tanker trucks loaded with Liquid Medical Oxygen from one part of the country to another.

The decision has been taken by the Railway Ministry in view of request received from Maharashtra government for transportation of liquid oxygen into the state. The Railways have said that through this mechanism a significant amount of transportation cost and crucial time can be saved while delivering Medical Oxygen to Health care facilities, specially in view of surge in COVID cases.

PM Modi reviews medical oxygen supply in the country; Directs to increase production to meet growing demands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a comprehensive review to ensure adequate supply of medical oxygen in the country. Mr. Modi has asserted that it is important to ensure synergy across Ministries and state governments to maintain the adequate supply of oxygen. He has directed to increase production of medical oxygen to fulfill the growing demands.

The Prime Minister took a detailed review of present situation of medical oxygen supply and its estimated demands in the 12 States which are witnessing rapid rise in the corona virus cases. An overview of district-level situation in these states was presented to him. He was informed that the Centre and States are in regular touch and estimates for projected demand have been shared with the states. He was informed that four thousand 880 metric tonnes of medical oxygen have been allocated to these 12 high burden states for meeting their projected demand as on 20th April of this month.

Additionally, five thousand 619 metric tonnes of medical oxygen have been allocated for the projected demand as on 25th April and six thousand 593 metric tonnes for the estimated demand as on 30th April of this month. The Prime Minister was informed that the surplus stocks of oxygen available with steel plants are being offered from medical use. Mr Modi suggested the officials to ensure seamless and free movement of tankers carrying oxygen throughout the country.

The government is allowing industrial cylinders to be used for medical oxygen after due purging. Prime Minister was also informed about the efforts being made to import medical-grade oxygen. 

EC curtails campaign time for remaining 3 phases of West Bengal assembly elections in view of Pandemic

In view of rising cases of COVID-19, Election Commission has curtailed the campaign timing for the remaining three phases of West Bengal assembly elections. It has extended the silence period from 48 hours to 72 hours. The Commission has also banned campaigning from 7 PM to 10 AM. The poll body in its order has taken a serious view against the repeated violations of Covid-19 norms by political leaders, campaigners and candidates.

Meanwhile, nearly 7 thousand new covid cases have been reported in West Bengal, the day before the fifth phase of assembly elections.  Total cases of Covid rose to 6 lakh 36 thousand 885 and 26 people have lost their lives due to Covid in the past 24 hours in the state. The state government has decided to increase the number of beds for Covid patients by 20percent in government and 25percent in private hospitals.

Polling progressing smoothly for 5th phase of assembly elections in West Bengal

In the poll-bound West Bengal, polling for the Fifth Phase of Assembly Elections is progressing smoothly. The polling, which begat at 7.00 A.M., will be conducted till 6.30 P.M. in the 45 Assembly Constituencies spread over six districts going to polls today.

The state is witnessing eight-phase elections. Polling is also being held simultaneously for the By-Elections of two Lok Sabha seats including Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and Belgaum in Karnataka along with 12 Assembly Constituencies spread over nine states. The average voter turnout registered till 11.30 am in different states.

Peaceful polling is on in Darjeeling district. Senior officials confirmed that no untoward incident has been reported so far. A  total of 104 candidates including 12 women are in the fray in the  3 districts of North Bengal in this phase.The districts are – Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri.

Over 18 lakh voters can exercise their voting rights at Jalpaiguri district while Kalimpong has 1.75 lakh voters. Over 12 lakh voters could vote at Darjeeling district. There are a total of 1 thousand 719 polling booths at Darjeeling district. 481 micro observers have  been deployed at Darjeeling district.Nearly 900 booths have been covered by web casting facilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the people to vote in large numbers in today’s fifth phase of West Bengal elections. He said the first time voters in particular should exercise their franchise. Mr Modi added that there are by-polls taking place in different parts of the country and asked voters in the seats to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy.

All the necessary facilities and security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polling during this phase. The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is being used along with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at every Polling Station, with a view to enhance the transparency and credibility of the election process and the availability of adequate number of EVMs and VVPATs has already been ensured for the smooth conduct of elections.

In view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the option of Postal Ballot facility has been extended to the electors who are COVID- 19 positive or suspect as certified by competent authority and are in home or institutional quarantine along with those marked as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and above the age of 80 years. It has also been ensured that every Polling Station is equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like drinking water, waiting shed, toilet with water facility, adequate arrangements for lighting, ramp of appropriate gradient for the   Persons with Disabilities.

The special facilities include mandatory sanitization of Polling Station, thermal checking of voters at entry point either by polling staff or paramedical staff or an Asha worker. If temperature is above the set norms of Health Ministry, then the elector will be provided with token and asked to come for voting at the last hour of poll. At the last hour of poll, such electors will be facilitated for voting, strictly following COVID-19 related preventive measures.        

The Commission has deployed 853 companies of Central Armed Police Forces in West Bengal for the Fifth Phase as compared to that in the previous phase. In the previous phase, 789 companies were deployed for 44 Assembly constituencies. The Election Commission sources said that out of these, 283 companies are deployed only in 24 Parganas district. It is intended to prevent recurrence of any untoward incident like Cooch Behar.

In West Bengal, the polling process is already over in respect of 135 out of total 294 Assembly seats in the earlier four phases. The state is witnessing eight-phase elections. During the Fifth Phase of State Assembly Elections, total 319 candidates including 39 women are vying for the 45 Assembly seats spread over six districts.

In West Bengal, total 319 candidates including 39 women are vying for the 45 Assembly seats during the Fifth Phase of State Assembly Elections. Over 1.13 crore voters including 56.11 lakh women and 224 Third Gender persons will decide the fate of these candidates.

In all, 15,789 Polling Stations have been set up for this purpose. Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting for all the 45 seats while ruling AITC is contesting 42 seats. Congress, Left parties and their alliance partner Indian Secular Front are fighting under the banner of Sanyukta Morcha. BSP has fielded 32 candidates, CPI (M) has 25, Congress – 11, AIFB – two, RSP, NPP and CPI one each while there are 83 independents along with 76 others are also in the fray.

The prominent candidates participating in this phase include State Ministers Goutam Deb from Dabgram-Fulbari, Tapas Roy from Baranagar, Bratya Basu from Dumdum and Siddiqullah Chowdhury from Monteswar along with Sujit Bose and former Mayor and BJP candidate Sabyasachi Dutta from Bidhanagar seat.

AITC Chief Whip Nirmal Ghosh from Panihati, Former Ministers Madan Mitra from Kamarhati, Bankim Chandra Ghosh from Chakdaha and Asoke Bhattachrya from Siliguri, Congress leader Sukhbilash Berma from Jalpaiguri, BJP leader Shamik Bhattachrya and singer and AITC candidate Aditi Munshi from Rajarhat-Gopalpur are also in the fray.

Besides, sitting BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar from Shantipur, former MP Dr. Tapas Mondal from Krishnaganj and former CPI (M) MP Alakesh Das from Haringhata along with actor Chiranjeet Chakrobarty from Barasat are also trying their luck.

Polling is also being held simultaneously for the By-Elections of two Lok Sabha seats including Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and Belgaum in Karnataka along with 12 Assembly Constituencies spread over nine states. The ACs going in for the By-Polls include three in Rajasthan, two in Karnataka and one each in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Telangana and Uttarakhand. There are 151 candidates in the fray for 12 Assembly seats indicating largely multi-cornered contests.

Polling is going on peacefully amid tight security for 32 seats of three districts in South Bengal in this phase. Polling has began at 7am this morning for 16 seats of North 24 Parganas and 8seats each of Nadia and Purba Bardhaman. Voters have been standing in long queues since early morning, hours before the polling started, to cast their votes.

In wake of the surge in Covid cases throughout West Bengal, particularly in North 24parganas, wearing masks and maintaining safe distancing along with other covid protocols are being scrupulously followed in all the booths.